Minnesota airport information for drivers
To ensure a smooth airport experience for you and your passengers, make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules below. Tap each link to jump to detailed instructions on each section:
The following information applies to all airports:
Airport officials will issue administrative citations to drivers who do not follow the rules. You are responsible for paying any tickets you receive for violating airport rules and regulations.
Note: The time you spend waiting in an airport queue won’t be counted towards the 12-hour limit.
Lyft emblem
- Keep your Lyft emblem displayed in your lower right hand (passenger side) of your front windshield at all times while giving Lyft rides.
- If you are giving a non-Lyft ride at the airport, make sure to remove your emblem before entering airport property.
- If you’ve just been approved to drive, you should receive your Lyft emblem shortly. If you didn't get one or need a new one, place an order in your Dashboard. While waiting for it to arrive, you may print a temporary emblem.
![Image of the Lyft emblem.](https://images.ctfassets.net/ecaxsf5u3xse/2hVkjtghOddEtJWKSFqLET/11aa2112303434589912f679fc29d424/lyft_emblem.png)
Conduct at the airport
- Do not stop or pull over in crosswalks.
- Do not park in red zones or taxi/shuttle areas unless otherwise specified in the rules above.
- Always follow instructions given by airport personnel.
- If you run into any trouble, like a regulatory citation, reach out to our Support team. We're here to help 24/7.
Waybill
- Airport authorities may ask you for a waybill, which shows your latest ride. Click here to learn how to access your waybill.
Permitted Airports
Drivers on the Lyft platform are responsible for knowing and following all airport regulations in order to avoid receiving administrative citations from the airport. Lyft is available at the following airports in Minnesota:
Duluth International Airport (DLH)
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers in the parking lot west of the terminal pictured above.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers curbside at the terminal entrance, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
- Do not wait at the airport terminal or accept additional ride requests after drop-off.
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Waiting for requests:
- Wait in the designated staging areas (open in Google Maps) Only drivers within one of the designated staging areas pictured above are added to the queue.
- You may see multiple airport staging lots in the app. You can choose any available lots and it won't affect your place in the queue. The app will show how many drivers are waiting in each staging lot.
- The queue is first in-first out. The driver who has been waiting within the staging area in driver mode the longest gets the next request. Your physical location within the staging area does not affect your spot in the queue, but if you exit the staging area or log out of driver mode, you will lose your spot.
- If the staging area is full, you must leave the airport. You may not wait for requests anywhere else on airport property or use any other parking lots while in driver mode.
- Passenger cancellations don't affect your place in line. If your passenger cancels on you, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue.
- Driver cancellations and missed requests do affect your place in line. You can miss or decline up to 3 rides before getting placed at the back of the queue.
- You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
![This image is a map of the MSP airport terminal 1. It includes staging lot, pickup, and drop-off areas.](https://images.ctfassets.net/ecaxsf5u3xse/2cmdhS29Nxl00xXqUGl272/2d022add5f8e9d3985477126f55dec9d/MSP_-_Terminal_1-02__1_.png)
Pickups:
- Terminal 1: Pickup location for passengers is located at the Ground Transportation Center. Drive down Glumack Dr, stay in the left lane and continue toward Arrivals. Take a left into the Commercial Vehicle lane and then follow the signs for Lyft. Pick up your passenger in an available pull-thru stall. It may be helpful to contact your rider with the zone you found an available stall in.
- Terminal 2: Drive down Humphrey Dr, past "Commercial Lane." Take the next left in the "Authorized Vehicles" area. Pull over and pick up your passenger from the lot on the left side.
- Drivers at MSP are no longer required to pay $6 to pick up and drop off passengers. Instead, a $3 fee is passed directly to the passenger.
- Express Match Zone: While waiting for requests, you may receive an in-app notification directing you to head towards the Terminal 1 Pickup Area and while en route, you may receive a ride request. If you do not, you are permitted to wait in the Express Match Zone at the pickup location in Zone B for up to 60 minutes. The designated waiting area is any of the available stalls in Zone B, located in the center section of the pickup area.
- Drivers in the Terminal Pick Up area need to remain with their vehicle.
- All drivers looking to do an airport ride should still start at the staging area.
- Do not go straight to the curb unless directed to do so by the app.
- Short ride bump: If you receive a request for a short ride from the airport after waiting in the queue, you may qualify for a higher queue position after you drop off your passenger.
- You'll receive an SMS after dropping off to let you know you have the option to return to the staging area for a preferred spot in the queue.
- Please note: if you give a ride before returning to the staging area, you may still qualify for a preferred spot in line.
- Rematch is a feature that enables you to be matched with additional passengers shortly before or after completing a drop off. This means you can receive a ride request for up to 2 minutes after dropping off a passenger without returning to the assignment area. Please don't recirculate or wait in the terminal area for a rematch, as airport authorities may issue citations.
- Do not pick up passengers from "Arrivals."
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed. MSP requires you to leave the airport and kindly ask your passenger to request another ride when he or she is ready.
- Do not hand out referral cards while on airport property.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers at “Departures” at the passenger’s carrier of choice, along either the North or South curb.
- Do not wait at the airport or accept additional ride requests after drop-off. You must leave airport property immediately after dropping off your passenger.
- As soon as you've dropped off your passenger, press 'Tap to drop off' in your app and exit airport property. Wait to rate your passenger until you've left the airport.
- Do not hand out referral cards while on airport property.
Airport Decal at MSP:
![This is an example of the MSP TNC Decal and its proper placement on the passenger side of your windshield.](https://images.ctfassets.net/ecaxsf5u3xse/3kP94v7rte0QL2I19bp9v/f85b6ff5f5a97c17fb1afd74ffa68a34/msp_placement.png)
- In addition to the Lyft emblem, drivers giving rides at MSP airport must also display an airport decal.
- Beginning 1/1/2018, all drivers giving airport rides at MSP will need to have a decal displayed, in addition to the Lyft emblem.
How to Obtain an MSP Airport Decal:
- Drivers can fill out a preliminary form online at https://tncpermit.mspmac.org.
- All drivers will then need to go to the airport to receive their decal.
- The office where you can pick up your decal is located at: Landside Operations T2 Office, 3350 East 72nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55450.
- There are approximately 35 parking spots reserved exclusively for drivers in front of the building for the permitting process.
- To get to the Landside Operations T2 Office at MSP Airport, please follow these directions:
- Enter from 34th Ave from 494 (the airport encourages using 34th Ave rather than Post Rd).
- When you turn onto 34th Ave, the cemetery will be on your right.
- Continue until you reach E 70th St and turn left onto E 70th St.
- Continue until Humphrey and then turn left onto Humphrey.
- Head straight until you see an entrance on the righthand side at the white sign labeled “Authorized Vehicles Only.” Please park in the lot.
- Upon arrival to the airport office, drivers will will be expected to provide:
- Your valid driver license.
- TNC Driver Status*:
- *Use your Lyft app to verify driver status and vehicle inspection record (see sample below).
- Please make sure to keep a physical copy of your inspection form in your car at all times as well.
- $25 permit fee:
- The only accepted method of payment will be credit or debit card. The airport is unable to accept cash or check.
- Permits will cost $25, which will not be paid for or reimbursed by Lyft.
- The decal will need to be placed on the inside of the windshield behind the rear view mirror (see example above).
- Landside Operations office hours are Monday–Friday from 8:00 am–4:00 pm.
How to view your vehicle inspection in the app:
![This gif shows how to view the MSP inspection once you've uploaded it to the Lyft Driver app.](https://images.ctfassets.net/ecaxsf5u3xse/7BzlbWzcQXx4rjTUqY07oS/d6eee2eff96b12df76b6e10360130670/msp_vehicle_insepction.gif)
Rochester International Airport (RST)
Waiting for requests:
- Wait in the designated staging area. Only drivers within the designated staging area (pictured above) are added to the queue.
- The queue is first in-first out. The driver who has been waiting within the staging area in driver mode the longest gets the next request. Your physical location within the staging area does not affect your spot in the queue, but if you exit the staging area or log out of driver mode, you will lose your spot.
- If the staging area is full, you must leave the airport. You may not wait for requests anywhere else on airport property or use any other parking lots while in driver mode.
- Passenger cancellations don't affect your place in line. If your passenger cancels on you, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue.
- Driver cancellations and missed requests do affect your place in line. You can miss or decline up to 3 rides before getting placed at the back of the queue.
- You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers from one of the pickup/drop-off areas pictured above.
- The Lyft app moves the passenger's pin to an approved pickup area. If you're having trouble finding each other, make sure you have both gone to the pin's location and are on the correct level of the airport.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up.
- Short ride bump: If you receive a request for a short ride from the airport after waiting in the queue, you may qualify for a higher queue position after you drop off your passenger. You'll receive an SMS after dropping off to let you know you have the option to return to the staging area for a preferred spot in the queue. Please note, if you give a ride before returning to the staging area, you may still qualify for a preferred spot in line.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers at one of the pickup/drop-off areas pictured above.
All Other Permitted Airports
The rules below for pickups and drop-offs apply to the following airports:
- Mankato Regional Airport | MKT
- St. Cloud Regional Airport | STC
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers from Arrivals, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers curbside at the terminal entrance, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
- Do not wait at the airport terminal or accept additional ride requests after drop-off.